From the preceding chapter it has been clearly seen, that the Germans in Philadelphia, and indeed in the whole State, were strongly religious, and were celebrated for their church music and instrument makers, especially for their organ builders.
Were all the people in Philadelphia as religious as the Germans and Quakers seem to have been, and were there no public amusements? This is an important question, and one not easily answered, especially during the first half of the eighteenth century. It may be thought that this question is not related to German music, but indirectly it is, so that it may be shown whether or not the people of Philadelphia were ready to welcome music, whether they were in a state of mind favorable to the introduction of any amusements. It is necessary to establish these facts before we can clearly understand the reasons and cause for the introduction of German concert music into America.
We know, that in Philadelphia during the eighteenth century, there were men of every creed and religion, of every walk of life, of many different nationalities, and we may be sure that in such a conglomeration of men and ideas there would be some to whom amusements would be necessary—even amusements which strait-laced people would condemn. The information there is upon this subject supports the opinion, that there were amusements even in the early part of the eighteenth century. Foremost among the pleasures in which the inhabitants of Philadelphia indulged, was dancing, and we have reference to this art at an early period. In a book written in 1710 is the following statement:
“Among the rest of my Friends, I must not forget the facetious Mr. Staples, Dancing-Master, who was the first Stranger of Philadelphia that did me the Honour of a Visit.”[76]
As early as 1716 we find this record:
“At the Yearly Meeting of the Friends, members were advised against ‘going to or being in any way concerned in plays, games, lotteries, music and dancing.’”[77]
Throughout the first half of the eighteenth century dancing was evidently held in due respect by a certain element of the population. In 1728 it forms a part of the curriculum of a boarding school.[78] In 1730 dancing is taught by Thomas Ball’s sister.[79] The first really fashionable ball was probably that given by Governor Gordon, in 1726, in honor of the Prince of Wales’ birthday.[80] To some extent, too, music and dancing were surely a part of the marriage festivities, as the following item shows:
“We hear that Tuesday night last, a young Dutchman was married to an old Dutchwoman, who was known to have money. They had a fiddle at the Wedding.... She danc’d till it was late.”[81]
We find ministers of different denominations complaining of the irreligion of some of the inhabitants. As one writer remarks:
“We live in an age, when ’tis counted almost a scandal to be a Christian. Religion is stil’d Preciseness and Hypocrisy, and a strict Conformity to Truth and Virtue is imputed to be the Effect of Melancholy, a Distemper’d Imagination. We daily hear the greatest Mysteries of our Faith Ridicul’d and Banter’d, the Clergy Despis’d, Expos’d and Degraded; and that even by Men, who have not yet Publickly Renounc’d Christianity; but such as would be thought to have clearer Heads, and more refin’d Conceptions of Things than their Brethren, those Men to their Shame stand Pelting Religion at a distance, with little Scoffs and Jests, when there is a more Fair and Honourable way of deciding the Matter, by rational and undeniable Arguments.”[82]